The offer in Hauts-de-France is like France, geographically unequal and between the private and associative sectors. In fact, most of the private centers offering padel are currently located in the Lille metropolis, and as we were able to demonstrate in the exploratory phase, around 80% of the land belongs to a private merchant structure.

The first centers in this region opened about 4 years ago, while the first sites in associative structures were created about a year ago.

The current lack of land is a real problem for development. Victor took rugby as an example: “ A rugby player will tell you why there is no rugby in Nord-Pas-de-Calais, because there are no pitches. "[1]. So he compared rugby to padel in terms of geographic offer and spoke to us about “concept”; " more land, more players, more players, more land ". This is an idea that surely has its limits, but this lack of ground seems relevant and obvious in France and in Hauts-de-France. François also confirmed this idea: “ I don't play there very often because, in the end, I don't live right next to a padel, there is still a 30 minute drive. »[2].

The price can also be a brake, especially in private structures. The cost for one hour of play for one person is on average 8 euros. This tariff will perhaps tend to fall due to the arrival of the associative sector on the market which would surely offer more attractive prices, but these are only assumptions. Regions such as the South have seen private merchant structures offering fewer services, in particular no longer a receptionist and reservations and payments on digital terminals, as Jean could tell us: " tennis clubs in the South are very, very developed in terms of Padel, and private centers like here are forced to lower their prices, even if it means offering fewer services, there are some who have no one at the reception ”[3]. He also told us that this phenomenon could happen in the Hauts-de-France in a few years.

[1] Page 85: Victor interview

[2] Page 107: François interview

[3] Page 95: interview with Brice and Jean

Pierre Lemonnier

Pierre studied STAPS, and validated a master's degree in sports management, after studying in Reims, Frankfurt and Lille. I discovered the padel in 2014 during my Erasmus year in Frankfurt thanks to a Spanish friend. Damn it is good padel !

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